crown jewels: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal (literal meaning), Informal/Figurative (extended meanings)
Quick answer
What does “crown jewels” mean?
The precious ceremonial objects and regalia (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The precious ceremonial objects and regalia (e.g., crowns, scepters, orbs) belonging to a royal family and used in the coronation ceremony.
The most valuable, prized, or important assets belonging to an individual, organization, or country. Also used in anatomy to refer to male genitalia (humorous/slang).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The literal sense is more frequent in UK English due to the monarchy. The figurative sense is used in both varieties, though the anatomical slang is more common in UK/Australian informal contexts.
Connotations
In the UK, the term carries strong historical and institutional weight. In the US, the figurative sense is more common, often in business or sports contexts.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English overall due to the prominent cultural reference.
Grammar
How to Use “crown jewels” in a Sentence
possessive + crown jewels (e.g., the company's crown jewels)the + Crown Jewels (specific reference)crown jewels + of + NP (e.g., the crown jewels of the collection)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crown jewels” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government moved to crown-jewel the nation's art collection, placing export restrictions on key pieces.
American English
- The takeover defence involved crown-jeweling the most profitable division to make the company less attractive.
adjective
British English
- The museum's crown-jewel exhibit was the ancient gold torc.
American English
- The quarterback was the team's crown-jewel asset in the trade negotiations.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a company's most profitable or strategic assets, e.g., 'The patent portfolio is the company's crown jewels.'
Academic
Used in historical, art historical, or political texts discussing monarchy, symbolism, and state power.
Everyday
Used figuratively and humorously, e.g., 'He's locked his bike up like it's the crown jewels.'
Technical
In cybersecurity/espionage: 'crown jewels' refers to an organization's most critical data or systems.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crown jewels”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crown jewels”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crown jewels”
- Using singular 'crown jewel' for the specific royal collection (incorrect: *'the crown jewel is on display'; correct: 'the crown jewels are on display').
- Capitalization: 'Crown Jewels' for the specific UK collection, but 'crown jewels' for the general/figurative term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Only when referring to the specific official collection of a monarchy (e.g., the British Crown Jewels). In figurative use, it's lower case (e.g., 'the crown jewels of French cinema').
Rarely. The term is almost always plural. You might see 'crown jewel' in a figurative sense for a single asset (e.g., 'This painting is the crown jewel of the gallery'), but 'crown jewels' for a collection remains standard.
It is informal, humorous, and mildly vulgar. It should be avoided in formal, polite, or professional contexts.
'Regalia' is a broader term for the emblems and symbols of royalty or high office (including clothing and jewels). 'Crown jewels' specifically refers to the precious, often gem-encrusted, objects like crowns and sceptres within the regalia.
The precious ceremonial objects and regalia (e.
Crown jewels is usually formal (literal meaning), informal/figurative (extended meanings) in register.
Crown jewels: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkraʊn ˈdʒuːəlz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkraʊn ˈdʒuəlz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to sell the family crown jewels (to dispose of core assets in desperation)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CROWN, worn by a JEWELer who is holding multiple jewels. The crown is the most important piece, and the jewels are the most valuable items in the shop.
Conceptual Metaphor
VALUABLE OBJECTS ARE ROYAL REGALIA (e.g., 'The championship trophy is the team's crown jewels.')
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does 'crown jewels' typically refer to?